Stack-compressor.



PATENTED DEC 3, 1907.

A. c. s. & 0.,s. RUE. STACK COMPRESSOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, 1907.

avwentow ,4. C. Z 006 ALBERT C. S. RUE AND OLE S. RUE, OF NORTHWOOD, IOWA.

STACK-COMPRESSOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3,1907.

Application filed March 13. 1907. Serial No. 362,179.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALBERT C. S. RUE and OLE S. RUE, citizens of the United States, residing at N orthwood, in the county of Worth and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stack-Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a novel form of stack compressor and has for its primary object to provide a simple and eflicient device of this character by means of which a stack of corn, or other green fodder can be readily compressed for the purpose of producing ensilage.

The invention also aims to provide an exceedingly powerful hand operating compressor which can be conveniently handled and which is composed of few and durable parts. Y

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the stack compressor. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the chain tightener employed in connection with the stack compressor. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the chain tightener. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the inner end of the operating lever and the pawls carried thereby foroperating the drum of the chain ti ghtener.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The invention is primarily designed for the purpose of compressing stacks of corn, clover, or any other desired form of hay, and comprises essentially a series of transverse beams 17 located upon the top of the stack 18, and longitudinal beams 19 bearing upon the transverse beams 17 novel means being employed for producing a powerful downward pull upon the longitudinal beams 19 and thereby compressing the stack in the desiredmanner. Pendent from the two ends of each of the longitudinal beams 19 is a cable or chain 14, the upper end of the said cable being formed with a loop or ring 20 which engages with the beam 19. Anchored in the ground at points approximately below the extremities of the beams 19 are the logs or dead-men 21, and projecting upwardly from the said logs are the anchor rods 22, the lower ends of which pass through the logs 21 and are connected thereto in any suitable manner as by a nut and a washer, while the upper extremities of the anchor rods 22 are formed with the eyes 23 to which the chains 15 are attached. Suitable claws 16 are carried by the extremities of the chains 15, the said claws being designed to engage the chains 14 and to thereby form a positive connection between the longitudinal beams '19 and the logs or dead-men 21.

Any suitable form of tightening device may be employed for producing tension in the chains 14 and 15 and thereby pulling downwardly upon the beams 19 for the purpose of compressing the stack 18. This result may be readily accomplished by'means of a chain tightenersuch as that shown in the drawings, the frame of which comprises a pair of spaced side pieces 1, the upper extremities of which are bent inwardly and provided with the corresponding ears 2 which may be rigidly connected in any suit able manner. The lower ends of the side bars are also bent inwardly and connected by a pin 3 having a claw 4 pivotally mounted thereon. J ournaled between the side bars 1 is the drum 5 which is provided at opposite ends with the ratchet wheels 6. In the specific construction of the drum 5 it will be observed that the same is formed in two sections such as shown in Fig. 2. Each of these sections comprises a ratchet wheel 6 anda hub portion 7, the said hub portions being provided with corresponding notches 8 which when the two sections are placed together form de ressions receiving the individual chain linlis and operating in the usual and well known manner to prevent the slipping of the chain upon the drum.

Any suitable means may be employed for rigidly connecting the two sections of the drum when the same are assembled for use. Corresponding lateral extensions 9 are formed upon each of the side bars 1, and an idler 10 is journaled between the lower portion of the said lateral extensions. The operating lever 11 is mounted between theupper portions of the extensions 9 and is provided upon its two sides with the oppositely arranged eccentric members 12. The pawls 13 engaging with the ratchet wheels 6 for turning the drum 5 are mounted upon the respective eccentric members 12 so that as the operating lever 11 is given a reciproeating motion the two pawls are moved back and forth in opposite directions and impart a continuous rotary movement to the drum.

In the operation of the device the chains 14 pendent from the longitudinal beams 19 are wound upon the drum 5 in such a manner that the individual links are brought into a positive engagement therewith, and the said chain is then passed over the idlerlO. The chain 15 connected to the anchor rod 22 is engaged at an intermediate point by the claw or hook member 4 at the lower end of the frame of the chain tightener and the operating lever 11 then reciproeated, which action is transmitted through the pawls 13 and imparts a continuous rotary movement to the drum 5 and thereby draws the chain 14 downwardly and places the same under a powerful tensile stress. After producing the required tension the hook member or claw 16 at the extremity of the chain 15 is placed in engagement with the chain 14 and the latter unwound from the drum 5. The implement can then be readily detached and applied successively to the various chains comprised by the stack compressor.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a stack compressor, the combination of a frame applied to the top ofthe stack, anchor members at the base of the stack, anchor rods connected to the anchor members and extending upwardly above the surface of the ground, cables pendent from the frame, a second set of cables connected to the anchor rods and detachably engaging the first mentioned cables, a frame provided with means for detachably engaging one set of the cables, a drum journaled upon the frame and designed to receive one of the opposite set of cables, and means for operating the drum.

2. In a stack compressor, the combina- 1 set of cables, a lever mounted upon the a frame, a ratchet carried by the druiin, and a pawl mounted upon the lever and engaging the ratchet to operate the drum.

3. In a stack compressor, the combination of a frame applied to the top of the stack, anchor members at the base of the stack, cables pendent from the frame, a second set of cables connected to the anchor members and detachably engaging the first mentioned cables, a frame provided with means for detachably engaging one of the second mentioned cables, a drum journaled upon the frame and receiving one of the first mentioned cables, a lever mounted upon the frame and provided with a pair of oppositely arranged eccentric members, a pair of ratchets carried by the drum, and pawls mounted. upon the eccentric members of the lever and engaging the ratchets whereby the drum is given a continuous rotary movement by a reciprocating movement of the operating lever.

In testimony whereof we affix our signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT C. S. RUE. [1,. s.] OLE S. RUE. [u s] WVitnesses II. T. Torn,

C. II. DWELLE. 

